SPORT PLUS HD Secures German Handball Bundesliga Rights for MENA
Handball-Bundesliga GmbH (HBL) has expanded its international reach into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region through an agreement with Algerian television channel SPORT PLUS HD. This partnership, announced in Cologne on October 20, 2026, makes select Opel Handball Bundesliga games available live to fans in over 20 countries across the region, including Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Under the terms of the agreement, SPORT PLUS HD holds exclusive broadcast rights for the Opel Handball Bundesliga in Algeria and North Africa, extending its coverage to the Middle East. The rights package encompasses three full-length live matches per match day, complete with commentary in Arabic and Tamazight. Additionally, the agreement covers live broadcasts of the Rexel Super Cup to commence the season and all four matches of the Lidl Final4 for the DHB Cup. Viewers can access SPORT PLUS HD via Nilesat 7° West, as well as online and through mobile devices, with the deal also including rights for highlight clips and on-demand content.
Bouzid Ichalalene, CEO of SPORT PLUS HD, stated that the agreement is part of broader efforts to promote handball within Algeria, aiming to provide Algerian players, coaches, and clubs with regular access to international handball. He emphasized that this is a logical step for fostering the sport's growth in Algeria, where handball is noted as the country's most successful team sport to date. HBL Managing Director Frank Bohmann acknowledged the partnership’s role in reaching millions of viewers across the MENA region, noting the strategic importance of this market for increasing the reach and visibility of the Opel HBL.
